Olympiacos end Aris’ red-hot run
GREEK SUPERLEAGUE - MATCHDAY 24
| Olympiacos | 4 - 1 | Aris |
|---|---|---|
| Masouras 27' Podence 35',75' Guerrero 90' |
Martinez 74' |
Olympiacos celebrated its 94th birthday in style on Sunday with an impressive 4-1 home win over in-form Aris at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium to keep in touch with SuperLeague leaders PAOK.
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Two first-half goals from Giorgos Masouras and Daniel Podence set Pedro Martins’ Thrylos team on their way, and although Nicolas Martinez pulled a goal back for Aris in the second half, Podence struck again and Miguel Angel Guerrero added another to seal another three points for the home side.
The victory gave the Olympiacos fans the perfect present to bask in the celebrations of the Piraeus’ giants’ birthday, with a noisy atmosphere providing the perfect stage for this Matchday 24 North v South derby clash..
The win means that second-placed Olympiacos cut their gap between themselves and leaders PAOK back to seven points, while Aris, who have been in a rich vein of form of late, remain fifth and are six points behind fourth-placed Atromitos.
THE MATCH
Aris came into the match unbeaten in six matches and in confident mood following their impressive 2-0 victory over reigning champions AEK last weekend.
And after a cagey opening during which both teams were feeling each other out, it was Aris who had the first clear sight of goal in the 24th minute.
The opportunity arose following a defensive lapse from Olympiacos center-back Miranda. Aris winger Giannis Fetfatzidis picked up possession on the right and carried the ball goalwards before sending his shot wide with Olympiacos goalkeeper Jose Sa beaten.
Aris were to rue that miss just three minutes later as Olympiacos opened the scoring. Kostas Fortounis released overlapping full-back Omar, and the Norwegian squared the ball perfectly for Giorgos Masouras to score from close range.
Just eight minutes later, the home side doubled the advantage to break the back of the game and set themselves up for the win. Masouras was heavily involved again, switching play beautifully for Daniel Podence. The Portuguese, all alone on the left, surged forward before firing a deflected shot past Julien Cuesta.
Aris regrouped after half-time and posed more of an attacking threat in the second half, and their enterprising play was rewarded in the 75th minute when they pulled a goal back through Martinez.
The goal was somewhat fortuitous as Mateo Garcia’s poor shot found its way to team-mate Martinez, who scored to make it 2-1.
Aris then committed the cardinal sin of relaxing their concentration levels after the euphoria of pulling a goal back, and they immediately conceded again just one minute later when Podence broke clear and fired in a shot which found the back of net after bouncing off goalkeeper Cuesta.
Guerrero then added some gloss to the scoreline with a well-placed header from a Leonardo Koutris cross.
STARTING LINEUPS
Olympiacos: 93 Jose Sa (GK), 23, Koutris 25, Miranda, 20 Meriah, 14 Omar, 5 Bouchalakis, 12 Gulherme, 56 Daniel Podence, 7 Fortounis, 16 Masouras, 18 Hassan
Aris: 23 Cuesta (GK), 69 Korhut, 92 Rose, 44 Velez, 15 Valerianos, 10 Larsson, 26 Matilla, 32 Siopis, 11 Garcia, 21 Younes, 28 Fetfatzidis
HIGHLIGHTS: OLYMPIACOS - ARIS
